This month we launch our issue with accounts of ghosts of the stars; actors and actresses long dead but whose celebrated images are still to be seen in places other than the silver screen.

Why are there so many ghosts of the famous? That is a question that has been asked many times before. In Britain these celebrity ghosts tend to be defunct nobility: Lord This, Lady That, various kings and queens. Three different historic buildings claim to be the haunt of Anne Boleyn.

In addition we can boast the shades of a smattering of military heroes, such as Lawrence of Arabia; literary figures, such as George Bernard Shaw and the Bronte sisters; and stars of stage and screen, from Dan Leno to Sid James. John Stoker, who introduces us to Hollywood haunts this month, will be turning his attention to homegrown theatrical ghosts next month. There are even some celebrity pets – Dick Whittington’s cat, for example (see my Phantom Felines article).

Perhaps the strong personalities of such celebrated figures predispose them to some sort of ghostly survival. The dramatic, intense lives of the likes of Anne Boleyn might also be a factor in such survival.

Nevertheless, except in the cases of very distinctive, recognisable figures like Bernard Shaw or Marilyn Monroe, I think it’s more likely that most ‘famous’ ghosts are misidentifications of less prominent personages from the past.

A lady in Tudor costume glimpsed at Blickling Hall in Norfolk, for example, might be any upper crust lady from the 16th century, but because Boleyn was brought up there, it is presumed to be her.

The cult of celebrity – which seems to have reached fever pitch in the UK in recent years – is nothing new. Anyway, it’s an instinctive and forgivable tendency to add interest to a story, and a celebrated figure does add interest. Anne Boleyn is more interesting than ‘Lady X’.

The suggestion that dramatic, emotive incidents can generate ghosts is one that is now ingrained in the paranormal literature. Sightings of such arresting apparitions as screaming women, galloping horses and soldiers locked in combat certainly support such a hypothesis. But since there are so many more reports of ghostly figures quietly going about their business (whatever that is), it’s open to question.

After all, peaceful, pottering monks and nuns are just about the commonest apparitions on record. An acquaintance of mine is convinced that she saw the ghost of former Prime Minister W E Gladstone – quietly reading a book. Some years ago I received a letter from a chap who saw the ghost of what appeared to be an old farmer, in smock and floppy hat, nodding and dozing on an equally ghostly cart going slowly up a country lane.

Famous or unknown – what impetus can there be to create such peaceable spooks? What possible factor can lead to a play-back of such tranquil, commonplace incidents from the past?

Perhaps the law of averages dictates that some ghosts must be of famous people. But we have no other law to explain what causes ghosts nor why.
It’s still all a delightful mystery.

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